CELS191 Lecture 13: DNA Replication

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary related to DNA replication as discussed in CELS191 lecture.

DNA Replication

The process by which a cell duplicates its DNA before cell division.

5' to 3' Direction

The direction in which DNA and RNA strands are synthesized.

Parental Strand

The original DNA strand that serves as a template for replication.

Daughter Strand

The newly synthesized DNA strand formed during replication.

Okazaki Fragments

Short sequences of DNA synthesized on the lagging strand during DNA replication.

Leading Strand

The DNA strand that is synthesized continuously in the 5' to 3' direction.

Lagging Strand

The DNA strand that is synthesized discontinuously in short segments (Okazaki fragments).

Primase

An enzyme that synthesizes an RNA primer for DNA replication.

DNA Polymerase III

Enzyme responsible for synthesizing new DNA strands by adding nucleotides complementary to the template.

DNA Ligase

An enzyme that joins Okazaki fragments together by creating phosphodiester bonds.

Exonuclease Activity

The ability of an enzyme to remove nucleotides from the ends of DNA strands.

Endonuclease Activity

The ability of an enzyme to cut DNA at internal sites, removing damaged or incorrect bases.

Proofreading Mechanism

The process by which DNA polymerase III checks and corrects newly inserted nucleotides.

Helicase

An enzyme that unwinds the double-stranded DNA helix during replication.

Single-stranded Binding Proteins

Proteins that stabilize unwound DNA strands and prevent them from reforming a double helix.

Topoisomerase

An enzyme that alleviates the tension generated ahead of the replication fork during DNA unwinding.

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

A laboratory technique used to amplify a specific segment of DNA.

Replication Fork

The Y-shaped region where the DNA double helix is unwound and separated during replication.

Replication Bubble

A structure that forms when DNA is being replicated, containing two replication forks.

Mutation

A permanent change in the DNA sequence that can result from unrepaired replication errors.